Venice Naples and Dubrovnik Crystal Serenity
Crystal Serenity Hosting for Virtuoso in Italy, October, 2006
Venice
Some time ago I received an e-mail from Gene about Style and Shop, a personal shopping experience in Venice he was unfamiliar with. Well, Dennis and I were in Venice and arranged for a two hour sample tour with Cinzia Farsetta at styleandshop@tele2.it
Cinzia is a delightful shopping guide who know the unique little spots that are small boutique factories or very unusual places. At Venetia Stvdivm I found a little pale blue silk velvet purse, handpainted with gold flourishes and a silk tassle at the bottom...and we visited a jeweler who has researched all over the world to find antique Venetian beads from which to craft her necklaces. She only uses these unique beads...Lovely and impressive although he didn't have a very big inventory as those beads are scarce.
We visited a custom shoe "factory", little shop where the designers were crafting a shoe that resembled a real foot, and one for a tiny baby. Unique shoes of flesh leather, so one would think you were really barefooted when you wear these shoes. Amusing.
We visited a small "jumble shop" with bakalite necklaces and earrings from the 20's, antique costume jewelry and very unusual finds. Tempting.
We were advised to eat at Osteria Enoteca San Marco...a local place with good views.
I would recommend Cinzia for a few hours to clients who really just want unique shops and don't want to find them on their own. She can show you some hidden sites and gardens, too. We really enjoyed having an expert to accompany us and were pleased to meet her between the pillars at San Marco Square.
Feel free to contact Cinzia for further info or to send your clients to her. My best, Patty
Naples, Italy
Naples was once known as the “New City” of the ancient Greeks. Naples suffered bombing during WW ll but has been rebuilt and is an active harbor.
Pompei, Sorrento, Capri where one can experience the Blue Grotto, if the water is calm are all accessible from Naples. The trip to Capri was 9 hours and there were so many people that we decided to wait until another trip to go to Capri.
We decided to explore Naples on our own, walking to the area where ferries depart regularly to many selected islands. We were approached by “Jimmy” who said he would take us by venicular up to the highest part of Naples to the Cameo Factory and would show us the palace and the church and the galleria (market) all for one EU each. We decided that might be all of this busy city we would want to see as it was Sunday the day we were in port. Many shops are closed on Sundays, but we found a few open at the Galleria after lunch.
So we followed Jimmy. Scarey? Naw. He was a little man about 4 ft 10, retired, properly dressed and in retirement looks for tourists at the pier who have decided to not sign up for a shore excursion, so they have a “lost, wondering look” in their eyes when they see that formidable site of Naples harbor.
So, off we went straight ahead from the port to the venicular station and then to the top (3 stops). Weexited, walked a way, caught a city bus to avoid too much walking up steep steps and were taken to the Palace (Castle Sant Elmo at the highest point in Naples where the views were nice of all of Napales the Monestary of San Martino and Mt. Vesuvius.
Voila, the Cameo Factory where the Corcione family has been hand carving cameos for 125 years. No laser cameos here. We shopped for the best and bought an antique hand-carved cameo framed in a rococo old, stone-encrused silver with stones . It was signed by the grandfather of the Corcione brothers. So, I have a special piece from Italy! And, Jimmy did his job! He told us in retirement he has this job making $200 EU per month just meeting cruiseships and bringing people to the factory. Unusual marketing ploy….
Phone 081 556 3526
Cell 0347 3844987
Located Piazale San Martino 14-11 in Vomero under the Castel Sant Elmo
Hillary Clinton, the Nixon Family and the Kennedy families all have cameos from this place. So, guess we are in good company.
Dubrovnik
Our guide in Dubrovnik for the day was Sonja Nalbani, Spletski Put 8, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Telephone 0038598877793. She is a teacher and guide and was furnished to us by Atlas Tours.
Dennis and I were selected as Virtuoso hosts for the Crystal Serenity, October 2, 2006, cruising from Venice to Rome.
Our first shore excursion was the exclusive Virtuoso excursion in Dubrovnik which included a moto coach transfer from the pier to the Pile Gates to enter the old walled city. Was was on board for guests and we had 3 luxury motor coaches and 3 guides with 65 guests. We met our guide and walked with our guide to see the Cathedral Treasury and the Franciscan Dominican Monastary and the Rector’s Palace with a dialogue of history along the cobble stoned walk. We didn’t climb up to walk on top of the walls, because we had a steady rain all day. It was warm, though, so no one complained about the rain.
We stopped at 11 am for free time in order to peak in among the smaller alleyways and passages off the main corridor of the city.
We met our guides at noon, boarded our coaches for a 40 Minute trip to the countryside to visit Konavaski Dvori Restaurant located through the woods from a small gristmill. We were greeted first at the small but very nice little mill on the property. We were shown how to make flour from corn, were served dried figs and liquers made on the property while we watched the corn be transformed in this delightful little mill. Trout streams run through the property and we were told the trout were very fresh!
We had a choice of fresh trout or lamb prepared under pots with lids on charcoals for 4 hours before we arrived. The meal was delicious and everyone relaxed after the morning walk, the ride to the countryside and the rain. This restaurant is in the southern Riviera region of Dubrovnik and the Valley of Konavle.
Atlas Travel Arranged this Excursion
Cira Carica 3
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
385 20 44 2679
Contact Marija Arsic-Bensan
Marija.ursic@atlas.hr
Venice
Some time ago I received an e-mail from Gene about Style and Shop, a personal shopping experience in Venice he was unfamiliar with. Well, Dennis and I were in Venice and arranged for a two hour sample tour with Cinzia Farsetta at styleandshop@tele2.it
Cinzia is a delightful shopping guide who know the unique little spots that are small boutique factories or very unusual places. At Venetia Stvdivm I found a little pale blue silk velvet purse, handpainted with gold flourishes and a silk tassle at the bottom...and we visited a jeweler who has researched all over the world to find antique Venetian beads from which to craft her necklaces. She only uses these unique beads...Lovely and impressive although he didn't have a very big inventory as those beads are scarce.
We visited a custom shoe "factory", little shop where the designers were crafting a shoe that resembled a real foot, and one for a tiny baby. Unique shoes of flesh leather, so one would think you were really barefooted when you wear these shoes. Amusing.
We visited a small "jumble shop" with bakalite necklaces and earrings from the 20's, antique costume jewelry and very unusual finds. Tempting.
We were advised to eat at Osteria Enoteca San Marco...a local place with good views.
I would recommend Cinzia for a few hours to clients who really just want unique shops and don't want to find them on their own. She can show you some hidden sites and gardens, too. We really enjoyed having an expert to accompany us and were pleased to meet her between the pillars at San Marco Square.
Feel free to contact Cinzia for further info or to send your clients to her. My best, Patty
Naples, Italy
Naples was once known as the “New City” of the ancient Greeks. Naples suffered bombing during WW ll but has been rebuilt and is an active harbor.
Pompei, Sorrento, Capri where one can experience the Blue Grotto, if the water is calm are all accessible from Naples. The trip to Capri was 9 hours and there were so many people that we decided to wait until another trip to go to Capri.
We decided to explore Naples on our own, walking to the area where ferries depart regularly to many selected islands. We were approached by “Jimmy” who said he would take us by venicular up to the highest part of Naples to the Cameo Factory and would show us the palace and the church and the galleria (market) all for one EU each. We decided that might be all of this busy city we would want to see as it was Sunday the day we were in port. Many shops are closed on Sundays, but we found a few open at the Galleria after lunch.
So we followed Jimmy. Scarey? Naw. He was a little man about 4 ft 10, retired, properly dressed and in retirement looks for tourists at the pier who have decided to not sign up for a shore excursion, so they have a “lost, wondering look” in their eyes when they see that formidable site of Naples harbor.
So, off we went straight ahead from the port to the venicular station and then to the top (3 stops). Weexited, walked a way, caught a city bus to avoid too much walking up steep steps and were taken to the Palace (Castle Sant Elmo at the highest point in Naples where the views were nice of all of Napales the Monestary of San Martino and Mt. Vesuvius.
Voila, the Cameo Factory where the Corcione family has been hand carving cameos for 125 years. No laser cameos here. We shopped for the best and bought an antique hand-carved cameo framed in a rococo old, stone-encrused silver with stones . It was signed by the grandfather of the Corcione brothers. So, I have a special piece from Italy! And, Jimmy did his job! He told us in retirement he has this job making $200 EU per month just meeting cruiseships and bringing people to the factory. Unusual marketing ploy….
Phone 081 556 3526
Cell 0347 3844987
Located Piazale San Martino 14-11 in Vomero under the Castel Sant Elmo
Hillary Clinton, the Nixon Family and the Kennedy families all have cameos from this place. So, guess we are in good company.
Dubrovnik
Our guide in Dubrovnik for the day was Sonja Nalbani, Spletski Put 8, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Telephone 0038598877793. She is a teacher and guide and was furnished to us by Atlas Tours.
Dennis and I were selected as Virtuoso hosts for the Crystal Serenity, October 2, 2006, cruising from Venice to Rome.
Our first shore excursion was the exclusive Virtuoso excursion in Dubrovnik which included a moto coach transfer from the pier to the Pile Gates to enter the old walled city. Was was on board for guests and we had 3 luxury motor coaches and 3 guides with 65 guests. We met our guide and walked with our guide to see the Cathedral Treasury and the Franciscan Dominican Monastary and the Rector’s Palace with a dialogue of history along the cobble stoned walk. We didn’t climb up to walk on top of the walls, because we had a steady rain all day. It was warm, though, so no one complained about the rain.
We stopped at 11 am for free time in order to peak in among the smaller alleyways and passages off the main corridor of the city.
We met our guides at noon, boarded our coaches for a 40 Minute trip to the countryside to visit Konavaski Dvori Restaurant located through the woods from a small gristmill. We were greeted first at the small but very nice little mill on the property. We were shown how to make flour from corn, were served dried figs and liquers made on the property while we watched the corn be transformed in this delightful little mill. Trout streams run through the property and we were told the trout were very fresh!
We had a choice of fresh trout or lamb prepared under pots with lids on charcoals for 4 hours before we arrived. The meal was delicious and everyone relaxed after the morning walk, the ride to the countryside and the rain. This restaurant is in the southern Riviera region of Dubrovnik and the Valley of Konavle.
Atlas Travel Arranged this Excursion
Cira Carica 3
20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
385 20 44 2679
Contact Marija Arsic-Bensan
Marija.ursic@atlas.hr
posted by Patty's Getaways at 4:47 AM
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